by January Gilchrist

 

When I first started writing, I had no platform, no agent, and no idea whether anyone would care what I had to say. Most days, I felt like I didn’t even know how to write, let alone what to write.

What I did have was a story I couldn’t stop thinking about. A group of writers. A snowed-in retreat. A body in the snow. Fear. Anger. Jealousy. Revenge. The rest, I had to build—line by line, rejection by rejection, until eventually, someone said yes.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. It’s not about who you know—it’s what you finish. The publishing world rewards perseverance. I didn’t have industry connections, but I had discipline. I showed up every morning before teaching Pilates or when my young children went to bed. I revised, deleted, rewrote. I read writing books and studied best sellers. It was slow, messy and frustrating at times, but I set a word count goal for the book and didn’t stop until I reached it.

2. You need a hook that’s easy to pitch. Forget vague themes. When someone asks what your book’s about, you need a one-liner that makes them nod and smile. Mine became: Five writers. One Retreat. One Body in the Snow. Simple. Intriguing and most importantly, easy to sell.
3. Readers want emotion as much as plot. I’m not saying don’t give them suspense and twists. But what makes readers care is the emotional depth of your characters. The insecurity of a washed-up author. The desperation of a woman chasing justice. The terrifying fear of being watched when you’re alone. No one can relate to a perfect character so give them flaws and issues that the reader can connect with.

4. Marketing doesn’t have to be flashy. It has to be honest. I don’t love social media, but I do love books. Instead of posting pictures of myself or my books every day, I started talking to libraries, bookstores, writers' groups and book clubs. I shared my struggles. I supported other writers when they shared theirs. I remain genuinely grateful when a reader contacts me. Don’t let Meta sell you their dream—focus on real connection with your readers, not just follower count.

5. Publishing a debut is the start—not the finish. Releasing a book is exhilarating and terrifying. Enjoy the moment, be proud but keep thinking about the next one. If you want a career, you’ll need to finish this manuscript, and write another, and another, and hopefully another. That takes consistency, not luck or industry connections.

So, if you’re writing, keep going. If you're promoting, tell the truth. If you're dreaming, make it practical—set a weekly word count and commit to it.

Publishing a debut without connections isn't just possible—it's happening every day. The question isn't whether you're qualified enough to start.

It's whether you're stubborn enough to finish.